Coe College adds three new academic concentrations to meet workforce needs
Beginning this fall, Coe College will offer programs in healthcare administration, nutrition and supply chain management. The healthcare administration and supply chain management programs will be concentrations within the college’s business administration major, while the nutrition program will be a concentration within the college’s kinesiology major.
The three concentrations provide an education for growing career fields, and students within each concentration will take up to six courses online, with remaining coursework in the core curriculum completed in person on campus. The hybrid model combines a robust campus life and in-person learning experience with the flexibility of some online learning.
The new hybrid learning programs will be offered in partnership with Rize Education. Rize will allow Coe to tap into industry expertise and curriculum designed specifically for workforce preparation.
Each of the new concentrations is designed to prepare students for fast-growing careers while leveraging the college’s built-in benefits.
- Healthcare administration will combine economics, management, communication and analytical skills with healthcare-specific expertise to prepare students for leadership roles in administration, consulting, operations, human resources or a pathway to future graduate study. Coe’s location in the MedQuarter Regional Medical District creates a multitude of opportunities for job shadowing, internships and eventually employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for medical and health services managers is growing by 23%.
- Nutrition will integrate a strong science foundation from Coe’s broad offerings across its STEM programs with specialized training and lab work in nutritional science. Students in nutrition will also be able to take advantage of Coe’s MedQuarter location for hands-on field experience.
- Supply chain management at Coe will be grounded in the human-to-human skills that are essential for success with practical preparation for the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) exam and credential. Coe students will have the distinct advantage of their close proximity to manufacturing industries in Cedar Rapids reliant on efficient and effective supply chain management. According to the BLS, the job outlook for logisticians is growing by 17%.
College officials are excited to add more programs that are in demand from both the student and industry perspectives.
“It is our goal to continue to open up more opportunities for our students and simultaneously serve workforce needs, so we’re ecstatic about the possibilities these concentrations create,” said Coe College Provost Angela Ziskowski. “The demand for professionals in these areas is growing and we’re in a unique position to equip our students with the necessary technical skills while doubling down on vital skills like critical thinking, problem solving and communication into the curriculum that will be needed to keep pace with evolving needs after graduation.”
Students in the concentrations will have access to all of Coe’s support services including the #11 Best Career Services, #14 Student Support & Counseling and #18 Most Accessible Professors as ranked by The Princeton Review. For more than a decade, nearly 100% of reporting Coe graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation.